On my journey home from Vancouver I found myself standing in front of the Plaza Premium Lounge at YVR Airport. I was unsure whether I had access to this lounge, but after checking my Priority Pass app I discovered that I did! Here is my experience, and what you can expect.
Entry and crowd levels
I joined the line around 4:40 am. There was a slight delay in opening, and we began to file in at 4:50 am. I was in by 5:00 as we slowly trickled in. To enter I showed my QR code from my Priority Pass App and my Boarding Pass which I had loaded on my phone. At 5:00 am I had my pick of seats and chose a quiet spot with easy access to an outlet so that I could write. By 5:30 the lounge was quickly filling so I would recommend trying to arrive a bit early to ensure there is space for you to enter, and you get your choice of seating.
Charging Stations
There were outlets scattered throughout the space with many located at the top of the booths and along the counter areas with raised chair seating. As the lounge fills up I can still see within my line of sight 10 open outlets, each with two plugs.
Cleanliness
I found the lounge to be quite clean. I did arrive as it first opened so that may influence this rating, but as more people arrived the staff began quickly clearing used plated off tables and wiping those tables down after their occupants had departed. The food area was neat and tidy as well.
Food
The food options I found were typical of an airport lounge and were available as soon as I walked in. As it was only 5:00 am, breakfast was being served.
The following items were available:
- Three types of cereal
- Pork sausage, Potato Wedges, Eggs,
- Salad
- Parfaits and Oatmeal
- Muffins and Brownies
- Croissants, Sliced Bread, Butter, Peanut Butter, Honey
- Fruit
- A full bar
- Orange juice, water, a soft drink station, and a coffee machine where you can customize your order to your liking.
The food was good, nothing too remarkable, but better than other options I saw in the airport at that hour when not much was open.
Bathrooms
Before I left for my flight I ventured to test out the restrooms in the lounge. I was so pleasantly surprised. I had expected a tight squeeze when I brought in my luggage but was met with a spacious and modern bathroom complete with a toilet (of course) shower, towel holder, complimentary body wash, shampoo and conditioner, and a sink complete with lotions and a hair dryer. If you have a long flight and need a refresh during your layover, I recommend using this shower and restroom. It was very clean, private, and well-maintained.
If you have access to this lounge or are willing to pay to access it, I highly recommend checking it out while you wait for your flight. I am always much more comfortable in the longue than I am when waiting at the gate.